Early Childhood Programs

WILD BEGINNINGS

Get your child off to a WILD start with our Early Childhood Education programs!

For children ages 3-5

Friday Safari

Each 13-week session is offered on Fridays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The fall session runs from Sept. 6th through Dec. 6th.

Friday Safari offers children truly wild experiences during our full-day program held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Fridays. Our student-centered learning features opportunities to explore a Zoo with over 2,000 animals to discover. Weekly topics and themes will change to explore animals from all over the globe and child interests.

Wildlife Heroes Club

Registration is for the entire year. Wildlife Heroes Club meets once a month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on either Wednesdays or Sundays. Wednesday meetings start Sept. 18, and Sunday meetings start Sept. 22.

Take a journey with us to explore how you and your family can continue the path to being Wildlife Heroes. The monthly adult/child program will take you on a journey of Earth’s elements, and how we are all connected to helping protect wildlife. Wildlife Heroes Club participants will focus on a different elemental theme each month, enjoy story time, work on a family project (both at the zoo and at home), and develop their own family conservation story to share with fellow club members.

Stroller Buddies

Each 6-week session is offered on Wednesdays or Thursdays from 9-10:30 a.m.

Fall Session 1: Sept. 18 or 19 through Oct. 23 or 24

Fall Session 2: Oct. 30 or 31

During playtime, children use a variety of natural materials to connect to nature and explore with their senses, cultivate their imagination, problem solve, and develop language and motor skills in the process. Children will have the freedom to choose from a variety of activities and let their creativity soar! The playtime portion of the program is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your child and mingle with other adults. Healthy snacks will be provided.

This class is designed for one child per adult. A maximum of two children may be enrolled per adult. Only registered participants may attend this class.

Weekly themes correlating to areas of the Zoo and Aquarium are student-centered and designed to focus on students’ expressed interests when possible. Parents will receive updates regarding weekly topics throughout the duration of the program.

Walk-up registrations will not be accepted. Registration closes one week prior to the first day of the session.

Toilet Training: All Early Childhood Learning participants, in classes without parents, must be completely toilet trained (requiring no assistance in the bathroom). Our definition of toilet trained means that the child is not wearing pull-ups and is able to manage his or her own clothing by him or herself. We highly suggest sending your child to Pre-K in elastic-waisted pants or shorts.

Animal Handling and Safety: To ensure the safety of our animals, we cannot guarantee any individual animal or class of animals. Just like people, animals sometimes have a bad day or are sick and not available. There may be opportunities for children to safely touch selected educational animals in the classroom. Please note, however, the final decision will be at the sole discretion of the animal handler and based on many factors including animal safety, group size, and behavior.

Cancellation Policy: This is a non-refundable final sale. Enrollment fees are not pro-rated and are due in full at registration. Credit will not be issued within two weeks of start date of program. The Dallas Zoo and Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park reserves the right to cancel or change any program for reasons we deem appropriate. Programs will take place rain or shine. Programs that have not met the minimum number of participants within two weeks of the scheduled program date may be cancelled. In the event that we cancel your program, a full refund will be issued and individuals will be contacted directly. Credit may be used for any education program or camp at the Dallas Zoo or Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park. All changes or cancellations must be submitted in writing to Education@DallasZoo.com.

The Education Office is open Monday-Friday during regular Zoo hours. Contact us at Education@DallasZoo.com or 469.554.7300